Home prices in the Top 20 Metropolitan Areas rose 1.0% in June, according to the Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Index. This was the third consecutive monthly increase. The big winners were Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit with a 2.5% increase over May. Las Vegas was alone in suffering a drop of 0.6% over the previous month. The biggest loser in this current market downturn continues to be Las Vegas where prices are off 56.7% from their peak. Overall, home prices in the Top 20 Metropolitan Areas are down 28.4% from their July, 2006 peak . Read more

My date and I were fortunate enough to be at the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado for the sold out John Hiatt and Los Lobos concert last night. If you are not familiar with this amazing venue, the Chautauqua Auditorium was built in 1898. Read more

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the unemployment rate remained 9.5% in July with 131,000 jobs being lost. Temporary Census workers accounted for 143,000 of the total jobs lost. Private sector employment increased by 71,000 jobs.